LS 8-18 alpine CFIT after right-turn 360s near ridge; cause undetermined

An experienced alpine pilot was killed when an LS 8-18 struck a rock face in apparently controlled flight in the Alps near Bad Ragaz; aircraft destroyed. The pilot (3216 h, >2300 h on type) worked thermals along the alpine ridges. In the last recorded minute the glider flew two right-hand 360° turns at nearly constant altitude (IAS ~86 km/h, ~10% above stall). The right winglet struck a rock face at ~2680 m MSL; the outer wing separated and the wreckage slid ~130 m down a scree slope. CAVOK; no defects; no medical impairment. The probable cause was controlled flight into terrain, by a sequence that could not be determined.

1. Cruise from Bad Ragaz: The pilot released from tow near Vilan and worked thermals in the mountains, keeping a glide-back to the home airfield within reach.
2. Highly experienced mountain pilot: The pilot flew this alpine route regularly, launching from the same site for cross-country soaring.
3. Two right 360s at constant altitude: The pilot thermalled southwest of Pischahorn, then continued southeast; in the last minute of GPS data he flew two right-hand 360° turns at nearly constant altitude.
4. IAS 10% above stall: In the 20 s before the last data point at 14:50:08, indicated airspeed ~86 km/h — about 10% above the relevant stall speed. Stall scenario considered and judged unlikely.
5. Right winglet strikes rock face: Right winglet contacted rocky terrain at ~2680 m AMSL (estimated ~6 s after the last GPS data point). Wreckage distribution suggests near-vertical impact relative to slope.
6. Outer wing separates; wreckage slides: The right outer wing separated at the winglet impact; the main wreckage came to rest on a scree slope about 130 m lower. The pilot was fatally injured in the initial impact.
7. Probable CFIT; cause undetermined: The accident was probably a controlled flight into terrain; no technical, medical or weather factor was identified, and the cause could not be determined.